Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Deteriorated Bridge Expansion Joints

Bridge expansion joints are a particularly troublesome component of bridges, and many DOTs are seeking maintenance solutions for deteriorating expansion joints. Bridge expansion joints create a break in the structural continuity of a bridge, allowing clogging gravels and corroding chlorides to enter. To prevent deterioration of other bridge elements, the joints must be cleaned regularly and replaced promptly after failure. Unfortunately, limited time and resources hinder most DOTs from properly maintaining expansion joints, which eventually leads to deterioration of bridge elements. To reduce maintenance problems, some DOTs have started to move away from the practice of repeatedly replacing the joints upon failure in favor of retrofitting bridges to remove joints altogether. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) provides a formal way to compare alternative approaches for dealing with bridge expansion joints. This paper presents an LCCA for existing bridge expansion joint alternatives, including the practices of routine joint replacement and removal of joints. Three different cost scenarios are considered, including the consequences of leaking expansion joints. All scenarios indicate that the removal of all bridge expansion joints in favor of a continuous bridge deck is a cost-effective maintenance solution.